A few things I hope will be helpful.

Apr.2012-
My interest in art has always been squarely on character creation and character-based storytelling. Coming into the Endless Forest, however, I became more aware of the environment itself as a character. I have always been shy about attempting to draw inorganic objects in space, or simply disinterested, so I've avoided drawing 'backgrounds' until recently. I've come across an inspiring sketchbook, and decided to encourage my fellow artists to think more about environment, and begin placing your characters into a world more frequently.

I hope that the following images (from Disney's Sketchbook Series: Bambi) will show you that a place also has character, and representing that is sometimes not so overwhelming or complex as it may seem. Simple backgrounds can showcase a character, or create a sense of a larger world around that character. The term "background" calls to mind a painted backdrop on a theater's stage, or placed behind a person having their picture taken. So let us do away with those connotations for now, and think of the world around your character instead as their home, their environment. A place for them to be (rather than always floating in empty space). Of course, character-only artwork is perfectly acceptable and appropriate in many contexts. But I hope that others like myself who fear depicting the surrounding world may find this an encouraging push to take on the challenge. Notice while you look through how light and color are used to create atmosphere and an emotional quality to the work, and how few details are actually included in the drawing/painting.

Clicking the image will take you to a photobucket album where I've uploaded select images from the sketchbook.



I am currently at a level where just playing with simple depictions is still a challenge. But once you feel more comfortable with drawing backgrounds and a greater sense of enjoyment from drawing your characters in a world, I encourage you to study atmospheric perspective, linear perspective, and begin drawing from life. No matter where you are, you are in a space, and you can learn from trying to draw it.
Arial (atmospheric) perspective
Introduction to linear perspective with exercises

Good luck, and have fun.


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In response to Sidewalk's thread I decided to try and draw up a couple notes about drawing antlers. Not comprehensive. My first suggestion is as the others in the thread posted- look at and draw from reference from many angles.



*Good note on symmetry- p.59 "Making Comics" by Scott McCloud



Thanks to Chickenwhite for the face tutorial. Please ask any questions you have or let me know if you want some clarification with something. I might not know but i'll try to find out for you.

At Kaoori's request I tried making a tutorial of how I paint, but this walkthrough is the best I can offer for now. Pardon the length and lack of linear process explaination, please ask any questions you may have.



Additional, far more useful resources!
Comprehensive drawing and painting tutorial (good place to start)
Brilliant light and fur tutorial (part 1)
The figure in 3D space, beginning 4-point perspective
If you can understand and implement the ideas in these tutorials, you will have surpassed my own meager skills.

And please, remember that art should be something that adds to you, not something that takes away. Enjoy.